It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Q: What do you get when you mix CVS's finest "lighted porcelain angel tree top" with a sledgehammer, vintage dog head and a glue gun?

A: An updated version of a family classic -- but with a new, ultra-gaudy gown!

From this heinous masterpiece:


To this delightful little pooch who's ready to adorn our tree:


I rescued the dog's head, little black paws (which aren't shown in this photo) and the original, padded silver fabric wings as the CVS garden variety came with clear, plastic wings. We can finally ring in the season with, er, taste . . .

I Ain't No Saint but I am An Angel

Son #1 asked a while back if he could start calling me "angel" because I remind him of one. He doesn't do it often but he did call out to me as I was leaving the house this morning, "goodbye angel." He's such a sensitive kid.

This is the same boy who, when he was just a toddler, told me that he loves me so much that he needs 17 hearts to keep it all in.

If only there was a way to bottle all of that love and save some for when he's a teenager and wants nothing more to do with me!

Otherwordly Visit

A few months ago, Son #1 got up really early, around 5:30 a.m., and came downstairs in the middle of my ersatz-yoga, morning routine. It was a little chilly, so we got under a blanket on the couch and snuggled. Neither of us said a word. After a few minutes, Son #1 spoke, “Mom, do you see that angel over there?” “You mean the one on the lamp?” I asked pointing to one of the curved angels that serves as a pseudo-urn handle on the lamp base. “No, the real one standing in the corner,” he responded.

I whispered, “No Scootchie, I can’t see the angel but I’m glad that you can.”

Again, we were silent for a while and then he said, “Oh, it was your dad.” “What makes you say that?” “Because he just came and gave you a big hug.”